South Korea
S. Korea military sorry for failing to down North’s drones
South Korea’s president on Tuesday called for stronger air defenses and high-tech stealth drones while the military apologized for failing to shoot down North Korean drones that crossed the border for the first time in five years.
South Korea’s military scrambled warplanes and attack helicopters on Monday, but they failed to bring down any of the North Korean drones that flew back home or disappeared from South Korean radars. It raised serious questions about South Korea’s air defense network at a time when tensions remain high over North Korea’s torrid run of missile tests this year.
On Tuesday, the military again launched fighter jets and attack helicopters after spotting suspicious flight paths at a front-line area. A local county office sent emergency text messages notifying residents of a new batch of North Korean drones. But the military later said it was a flock of birds.
“We have a plan to create a military drone unit tasked with monitoring key military facilities in North Korea. But we’ll advance the establishment of the drone unit as soon as possible because of yesterday’s incident,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a regular Cabinet Council meeting. “We’ll also introduce state-of-the art stealth drones and bolster our surveillance capability.”
He said that South Korea’s military needs more intensive readiness and exercises to cope with threats posed by North Korean drones.
Lt. Gen. Kang Shin Chul, chief director of operation at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a televised statement the military feels sorry because of its failure to shoot down the North Korean drones and for causing big public concerns.
Kang acknowledged South Korea lacks capacities to detect and strike small surveillance drones with a wingspan of less than 3 meters (9.8 feet) though it has assets to spot and bring down bigger combat drones. Kang said South Korea will establish drone units with various capacities and aggressively deploy military assets to shoot down enemy drones.
It was the first time North Korean drones entered South Korean airspace since 2017. The drone flights came three days after South Korea said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles, extending its record testing activities this year.
North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. Advanced drones are among modern weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to procure, along with multi-warheads, underwater-launched nuclear missiles and a spy satellite.
Read more: S. Korea’s leader calls for stealth drones to monitor North
Since taking office in May, Yoon, a conservative, has expanded regular military drills with the United States and vowed to sternly deal with North Korean provocations. He’s offered massive support plans to North Korea if it abandons its nuclear weapons, but the North has rejected his overture.
On Monday, South Korea sent its own surveillance assets, apparently unmanned drones, across the border as corresponding steps against the North Korean drone flights. South Korea’s public confirmation of reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by Yoon’s government to get tough on North Korean provocations.
Yoon used the drone incident to hit at his liberal predecessor’s engagement policy with North Korea. He said Tuesday South Korea’s military had conducted little anti-drone training since 2017, when Moon Jae-in was inaugurated.
“I think our people must have seen well how dangerous a policy relying on the North’s good faiths and (peace) agreements would be,” he said.
Moon’s liberal opposition Democratic Party accused Yoon of shifting his government’s “security disaster” to someone else. Party spokesperson Park Sung-joon called on Yoon to thoroughly disclose what he did when the North Korean drones were flying in South Korean territory.
Moon was credited with arranging now-dormant diplomacy on North Korea’s nuclear program, but also faced criticism that his appeasement policy allowed North Korea to buy time and boost its nuclear arsenal despite international sanctions. During his campaigning, Yoon described Moon’s government as “subservient” to North Korea and accused him of undermining South Korea’s seven-decade military alliance with the United States.
Read more: Kim claims N. Korean successes, wants to overcome challenges
Earlier Tuesday, North Korea’s state media announced the start of a key ruling Workers’ Party meeting the previous day to review past policies and discuss next year’s plans.
During the meeting, Kim Jong Un called for stronger efforts to overcome hardships and challenges facing his country. But he still claimed North Korea has reported some successes “in the arduous course” and said his country’s national strength has “remarkably” increased in military, economic and other areas, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Some observers say Kim may need such propaganda-driven claims to draw greater public loyalty to bolster his weapons arsenal and address economic woes while facing U.S.-led sanctions and pressure campaigns to curb his nuclear ambitions.
The North Korean Workers’ Party meeting is expected to last several days, and Kim will likely address issues such as his arms buildup, relations with the United States and the economy in later sessions.
S. Korea’s leader calls for stealth drones to monitor North
South Korea’s president on Tuesday called for stronger air defenses and high-tech stealth drones while the military apologized for failing to shoot down North Korean drones that crossed the border for the first time in five years.
South Korea’s military scrambled warplanes and attack helicopters on Monday, but they failed to bring down any of the North Korean drones that flew back home or disappeared from South Korean radars. It raised serious questions about South Korea’s air defense network at a time when tensions remain high over North Korea’s torrid run of missile tests this year.
“We have a plan to create a military drone unit tasked with monitoring key military facilities in North Korea. But we’ll advance the establishment of the drone unit as soon as possible because of yesterday’s incident,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a regular Cabinet Council meeting. “We’ll also introduce state-of-the art stealth drones and bolster our surveillance capability.”
He said that South Korea’s military needs more intensive readiness and exercises to cope with threats posed by North Korean drones.
Read more: Kim claims N. Korean successes, wants to overcome challenges
Lt. Gen. Kang Shin Chul, chief director of operation at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a televised statement the military feels sorry because of its failure to shoot down the North Korean drones and for causing big public concerns.
Kang acknowledged South Korea lacks capacities to detect and strike small surveillance drones with a wingspan of less than 3 meters (9.8 feet) though it has assets to spot and bring down bigger combat drones. Kang said South Korea will establish drone units with various capacities and aggressively deploy military assets to shoot down enemy drones.
A front-line county office in South Korea on Tuesday sent emergency text messages notifying residents of a new batch of North Korean drones. But the military later said it was a flock of birds.
On Monday, South Korea sent its own surveillance assets, apparently unmanned drones, across the border as corresponding steps against the North Korean drone flights. South Korea’s public confirmation of reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by Yoon’s government to get tough on North Korean provocations.
It was the first time North Korean drones entered South Korean airspace since 2017. The drone flights came three days after South Korea said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles, extending its record testing activities this year.
North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. Advanced drones are among modern weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to procure, along with multi-warheads, underwater-launched nuclear missiles and a spy satellite.
Read more: S. Korea fires warning shots after North drones cross border
Earlier Tuesday, North Korea’s state media said Kim called for stronger effort to overcome hardships and challenges facing his country at the start of a key ruling Workers’ Party meeting the previous day.
Some experts say Kim will likely use the meeting to reaffirm his resolve to expand his nuclear arsenal and introduce high-tech weapons targeting the U.S. and South Korea while laying out projects to revive pandemic-battered public livelihoods.
In Seoul, the South Korean president used the drone incident to hit at his liberal predecessor’s engagement policy with North Korea.
Yoon, a conservative who took office in May, said South Korea’s military had conducted little anti-drone training since 2017, when Moon Jae-in was inaugurated.
“I think our people must have seen well how dangerous a policy relying on the North’s good faiths and (peace) agreements would be,” he said.
Moon’s liberal opposition Democratic Party accused Yoon of shifting his government’s “security disaster” to someone else. Party spokesperson Park Sung-joon called on Yoon to thoroughly disclose what he did when the North Korean drones were flying in South Korean territory.
Moon was credited with arranging now-dormant diplomacy on North Korea’s nuclear program, but also faced criticism that his appeasement policy allowed North Korea to buy time and boost its nuclear arsenal despite international sanctions.
The North Korean Workers’ Party meeting is expected to last several days, and Kim will likely address issues such as his arms buildup, relations with the United States and the economy in later sessions.
S. Korea fires warning shots after North drones cross border
South Korea’s military fired warning shots and scrambled aircraft after North Korean drones entered the South’s airspace on Monday, South Korean officials said, days after the North launched two ballistic missiles in its latest testing activities.
Several North Korean drones crossed the inter-Korean border and were detected in the South’s territory on Monday morning, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said.
South Korea’s military broadcast warnings and fired warning shots before it launched fighter jets and attack helicopters to shoot down the North Korean drones, the Defense Ministry said. It wasn’t immediately known if the drones were shot down.
Read: North Korea says rocket launch was test of 1st spy satellite
It’s the first time for North Korean drones to enter South Korean airspace since 2017, when a suspected North Korean drone was found crashed in South Korea. South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone photographed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.
North Korea has previously touted its drone program, and South Korean officials said the North has about 300 drones. In 2014, several suspected North Korean drones were found south of the border. Experts said they were low-tech but could be considered a potential security threat.
Read: Missile tests practiced to attack South, US: North Korea
Last Friday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The launch was seen as a protest of the South Korean-U.S. joint air drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.
This year, North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests in what some experts call an attempt to improve its weapons and pressure rivals to make concessions such as lifting sanctions in future negotiations. Recently, the North also claimed to have performed major tests needed to acquire its first spy satellite and a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
N. Korea fires ballistic missiles after US-S. Korea drills
North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Friday, its latest weapons demonstration that came days after U.S. and South Korean warplanes conducted joint drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.
North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests this year in what some experts call an attempt to bolster its weapons capability and pressure its rivals to make concessions such as sanctions relief in future negotiations. Recently, the North also claimed to have performed major tests needed to acquire its first spy satellite and a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
South Korea’s military detected the two missile launches from North Korea’s capital region at around 4:32 p.m. on Friday. Japan said it also confirmed at least one missile launch by North Korea.
It wasn’t immediately clear exactly what kinds of missiles North Korea fired. South Korea’s military said the missiles traveled about 250 kilometers (155 miles) and 350 kilometers (220 miles) respectively before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
Japanese Vice Defense Minister Toshiro Ino said that one missile detected by Japan flew as far as 300 kilometers (180 miles) at a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles). He said that missile might have showed an “irregular” trajectory, a possible reference to North Korea’s highly maneuverable, nuclear-capable KN-23 missile, which was modeled on Russia’s Iskander missile.
South Korea’s military called the launches “a grave provocation” that hurts international peace. It said South Korea will maintain a firm readiness and closely monitor North Korean moves in coordination with the United States. Ino also accused North Korea of significantly raising tensions with repeated weapons tests.
Read more: N Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles in resumption of testing
The launches could be a response to the U.S.-South Korean aerial military exercises near the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, as North Korea has said its torrid run of testing activities in past months were meant as a warning over its rivals’ previous combined drills. Washington and Seoul have said their drills are defensive in nature, but North Korea calls them practice for an invasion.
The latest U.S.-South Korean drills drew B-52 nuclear-capable bombers and F-22 stealth fighter jets from the United States and other advanced warplanes from South Korea. The training was part of a bilateral agreement on boosting a U.S. commitment to defend its Asian ally with all available military capabilities, including nuclear, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry.
The F-22 jets were supposed to stay in South Korea for more joint drills this week with the South Korean air force, but the U.S. aircraft eventually returned to their base in Japan due to weather conditions, South Korean defense officials said.
The aerial drills came after North Korea said it used old missiles as launch vehicles to test cameras and other systems on Sunday for the development of its first military reconnaissance satellite. Its state media also published low-resolution photos of South Korean cities as viewed from space.
Some civilian experts in South Korea said the photos were too crude for surveillance purposes and that the launches were likely a cover for tests of North Korea’s missile technology. South Korea’s military has maintained North Korea fired two medium-range ballistic missiles.
Such assessments have infuriated North Korea, with the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issuing crude insults of unidentified South Korean experts. Kim Yo Jong said there was no reason to use an expensive, high-resolution camera for a single-shot test.
Kim Yo Jong also scoffed at South Korea’s previous assessment that North Korea still has technological hurdles to overcome to acquire functioning ICBMs that can launch nuclear strikes on the U.S. homeland — such as the ability to protect its warheads from the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry.
To prove the North’s ICBM capability, she suggested that North Korea might carry out a standard-trajectory ICBM launch. All of the North’s previous ICBM launches were made at a steep angle to avoid neighboring countries. A normal-angle ICBM launch could sharply inflame regional animosities and trigger a strong response from the U.S. as the weapon would fly toward the Pacific Ocean.
Read more: North Korea fires new type of short-range ballistic missiles
A spy satellite and a solid-fueled ICBM are among the high-tech weapons systems that Kim Jong Un has vowed to introduce to cope with what he calls U.S. hostility. Other weapons systems he wants to procure include missiles with multi-warheads, underwater-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-powered submarines and hypersonic missiles.
Last week, North Korea tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor” that experts say would be used for a solid-fueled missile, which is more agile and harder to detect before launches than liquid-fueled weapons.
South Korean envoy Lee greets Bangladesh on Victory Day
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-Keun has congratulated the government and people of Bangladesh for its remarkable socio-economic achievements during the past five decades.
"I look forward to our joint celebration of the 50 years of diplomatic ties between Korea and Bangladesh in 2023 which will be a significant momentum for our two countries in taking the bilateral relations to a new height," he said in a message marking the Victory Day of Bangladesh.
Read more: Victory Day: PM pays tributes to Liberation War martyrs
As a country which has gone through a similar turbulent history of struggling for the independence and sovereignty of their nation as Bangladesh in the 20th century, the Republic of Korea joins wholeheartedly in the celebration of the Victory Day of Bangladesh this year, said the Ambassador.
Agreement signed with Seoul for transport master plan for Chattogram city
Bangladesh and South Korea Thursday signed an agreement to launch a two-year project on the transport master plan and a preliminary feasibility study for urban metro rail transit construction in Chattogram city.
South Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in collaboration with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), the Road Transport and Highways Division, and the road transport and bridges ministry, signed the deal ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-South Korea ties next year.
DTCA under the Road Transport and Highways Division will be the partner of KOICA to implement the project.
KOICA Country Director Doh Young-ah, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, and Economic Relations Division Additional Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky signed the agreement.
Read: Bangladesh, EU willing to sign “partnership cooperation” agreement to elevate ties
ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan and South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun were present.
Over the next 24 months, the project involving a Tk60.01 crore grant will develop a transportation master plan for Chattogram city, prepare a pre-feasibility study and preliminary concept design for MRT construction there, and enhance the institutional capacity of the DTCA for establishing an efficient transportation system.
Lee Jang-keun said, "Korea has long viewed Bangladesh as a trusted partner and is willing to assist in a variety of development areas, including transport, governance, and others."
"Officials stated that Korea developed two master plans for Bangladesh in 2003 and 2018 on the Chattogram sewerage system and e-government, respectively. Not only did Korea develop the master plans, but it is also attempting to implement them. Under this initiative, a third master plan will be developed."
Read: $4.5 billion loan: IMF reaches preliminary agreement with Bangladesh
Young-Ah Doh said: "I really hope that through this comprehensive cooperation from the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh will be able to improve traffic safety and the environment by offering eco-friendly, convenient, and fast public transportation services in accordance with the master plan."
"Also, the master plan will build a road management system that will minimise travel time and the number of road accidents, resulting in the much-needed improvement of the country's road conditions. Furthermore, the project will solve current challenges and make positive contributions to the mass transit sector in Bangladesh."
50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023 will take Bangladesh-South Korea relations to new height: Envoy
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun on Wednesday said the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties will be a "springboard" to take Bangladesh-South Korea relations to a new height.
Stressing that 2023 will be a milestone to elevate Bangladesh-South Korea partnership to a new height with a series of events, Ambassador Lee wished "wide and active participation" of the citizens of the two countries.
"Let’s celebrate it together, let’s make it together and let’s work together for the brighter future of the Korea-Bangladesh ties," he said.
The Ambassador was speaking at an event unveiling the 50th anniversary logo which signifies the friendship between Bangladesh and South Korea.
Read more: Dhaka, Seoul to explore untapped potential for brighter future: Ambassador
The government of the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh unveiled the official logo for the 50th anniversary of Korea-Bangladesh diplomatic relations in 2023 at the award-giving ceremony of the logo design contest at the premise of the Korean Embassy.
Through this event officially a year-long celebration of the 50th diplomatic anniversary began.
Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joined the occasion as the chief guest and congratulated the winners.
Saber Hossain Choudury, MP, Ryu Young-oh, President of the Korean Community in Bangladesh, among others, were present.
Korea recognized the newly independent Bangladesh in May 1972 and established consular relations in September 1973 and finally diplomatic relations in December 1973.
"It is from today that we'll start the year-long celebration of our diplomatic anniversary. There will be many programs and events for the next one year to celebrate our anniversary. Today this ceremony is the start and the first official ceremony for the celebration," said Ambassador Lee.
Sharing the three goals or wishes he is having in mind to celebrate this diplomatic year, the envoy said, "First, I wish to document the story and history of our relations during the past five decades."
He hoped that this anniversary is not just for the government but for all the people of Korea and Bangladesh.
"I do wish that all Bangladesh and Korean people will actively join in our celebration. And it is the very reason why we have implemented this logo design contest," he said.
The Ambassador said he is planning to work closely with the Korean community in Bangladesh in line with the celebration.
"Already, the Korean community in Bangladesh declared the first week of March as Korean Week and plans to host several celebration events. There will be K-pop performances, a business fair and Korea Cup Golf Tournament," he said.
Read more: South Korea opens infrastructure cooperation center in Dhaka
Saudis in off-field win before Japan, Koreans exit World Cup
Hours before Japan and South Korea endured painful second-round exits from the World Cup in Qatar, continental soccer rival Saudi Arabia had plenty to celebrate.
The All India Football Federation’s decision to pull out of the race to host the 2027 Asian Cup, announced while all the football focus in East Asia was centered on Japan and South Korea’s knockout games on Monday, left Saudi Arabia as the only candidate to host the continental championship.
South Korea, which lost 4-1 to Brazil, and Japan, edged by Croatia after a penalty shootout, progressed further in the World Cup than either Qatar or Saudi Arabia. Off the field, though, the power in Asian soccer moved toward the west side of the continent.
Saudi Arabia is set to be officially confirmed as 2027 host in February when the Asian Football Confederation meets in Bahrain. It will be the first time that the country has staged the continental competition and could also lead to a future World Cup bid.
Read more: Qatar World Cup: Are Brazil and Japan favourites to meet in quarterfinals?
“People forget that Saudi Arabia has hosted many international events including the 1989 World Youth Cup and three editions of the Confederations Cup,” Hafez Al-Medlej, a former member of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation and the AFC, told domestic media. “The 2027 Asian Cup will be one of the most successful Asian competitions given Saudi Arabia’s ability to host sporting events and this will show that the country will be able to host the World Cup in the coming years.”
While the teams from East Asia have traditionally performed better at soccer’s marquee tournament — South Korea’s run to the World Cup semifinals when it co-hosted the 2002 tournament with Japan remains the best performance by an Asian team — West Asia has kept making strides in the running of the sport.
The United Arab Emirates hosted the 2019 Asian Cup and Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa is set to be named as AFC president for a third term in February. Qatar beat off a challenge from South Korea in October to host the 2023 Asian Cup, using the facilities created for the World Cup.
The Korea Football Association responded to that decision in October with a statement that highlighted some of Qatar’s lobbying.
“Qatar has promised huge financial support, such as the participation of additional sponsors by its own companies in the AFC, which is currently suffering from a loss due to COVID-19, a large-scale broadcasting rights contract with its own broadcasting company, and support for operating expenses of the Asian Cup,” the KFA said in the statement.
Saudi Arabia has never hosted the Asian Cup, which it has won three times since the inaugural event in 1956. The most recent title was in 1996.
Hosting the 2027 edition shaped to be a blockbuster contest when the Saudis, Qatar, Iran, India and Uzbekistan initially submitted bids more than two years ago.
India’s football federation said the Asian Cup in 2027 didn’t fit its strategic priorities.
Read more: Qatar World Cup: Who are likely to advance to the quarterfinals?
“India has always been a wonderful and efficient host to big tournaments, which was amply demonstrated in the recently concluded FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup,” AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said in a statetment. “However, the Executive Committee has decided that the overall strategy of the federation currently remains on focusing on the fundamental goals to strengthen our football at every level from grassroots to youth development.”
World Cup host Qatar was awarded the 2023 edition of the Asian Cup after China handed back its hosting rights, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. That tournament is expected to be pushed back to January 2024.
The Korean Football Association said in October that it would take time to reflect on its failure to win the Asian Cup bid, saying it “will do more research and practice on measures to strengthen international competitiveness and soccer diplomacy in the future.”
In the short-term however, as Japan and South Korea leave Doha, they know they will soon return.
Son exits World Cup without showing his best for South Korea
As Brazil’s big-time player made his return to the World Cup in Qatar, the superstar of South Korean soccer made his exit.
Son Heung-min is his country’s Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and, yes, Neymar, all wrapped up into one. Yet, as Neymar recovered from an ankle injury to score in Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea in the round of 16 on Monday, Son’s latest chance to light up the sport’s biggest stage came and went.
“We gave everything,” Son said. “Brazil is the favorite, look at their players. If you give them spaces they score. I’m so proud of what we’ve done and I don’t want to blame any of our players because they gave everything.”
For Neymar, there was a 76th international goal that moves him within one of Brazilian great Pelé’s scoring record for his country — and closer to a possible sixth World Cup for the tournament’s most successful team.
Read: Qatar World Cup: Brazil thump South Korea 4-1 and advance to quarterfinals
For Son, there was the frustration of knowing he was never going to be at the peak of his powers in Qatar. Not after an eye socket broken only a few weeks earlier forced him to wear a protective facemask throughout his four matches.
Sure, Son made it to the World Cup, but not the same player who has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe with Tottenham and was the co-leading scorer in the English Premier League last season, along with Mohamed Salah, with 23.
He leaves the World Cup without a single goal.
Against Brazil at Stadium 974, with South Korea trailing 4-0 at halftime, his big moment came soon after the restart.
Bearing down on goal, he sized up his chance and picked out the corner of the net. Unfortunately, Brazil goalkeeper Alisson was ready and managed to deflect the ball around the post.
In a later goalmouth scramble, Son again had an effort blocked.
Not that the South Koreans should depart with any regrets about their showing in Qatar. After all, few would have expected them to overcome a Brazil team that came into the tournament as one of the favorites.
Read: Croatia beat Japan on penalties, progress to quarterfinals
South Korea’s place in the knockout round was secured with a moment that will live long in team lore, when Hwang Hee-chan scored in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win over Portugal and advancement from Group H.
Why are World Cup players donning unusual face masks on pitch?
From South Korea's Son Heung-min, Croatia's Joško Gvardiol, Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri, Belgium's Thomas Meunier to Iran's Alireza Beiranvand, several players have been spotted wearing unusual face masks on the pitch during the FIFA World Cup 2022 matches in Qatar, drawing comparisons to Batman and the Phantom of the Opera.
The masks, made from materials like polycarbonate, are leaving social media users curious as to why the footballers are sporting the black shields.
But it's not a fashion statement. When football players suffer facial injuries, they frequently don protective masks. Some of these masks are 3D printed, enabling them to be customised to each player's facial features.
Read more: France's Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Fernando Torres, and Antonio Rudiger wore face masks before.
RB Leipzig centre-back Gvardiol sported a black protective mask during the Group F match against Morocco and Canada.
The reason for the 20-year-old sporting the face covering is he had a collision with teammate Willi Orban in a Bundesliga match on November 10, with scans later showing he had broken his nose and suffered minor injuries to his face and eyes.
Also read: Neymar to miss Brazil’s second World Cup match due to injury
In a similar on-field collision, Son suffered a fracture in his face, specifically around the eye socket, while playing for Tottenham during a November 1 Champions League win against Marseille.
The 30-year-old winger also stepped onto the field against Uruguay and Ghana, donning a black carbon fibre mask.
FC Köln midfielder Ellyes donned a mask against Denmark and Australia in Group D. The 27-year-old is nursing a broken cheekbone after suffering an injury in October.
Read More: Qatari bathrobes’: German commentator under fire for disparaging remark about traditional attire
Belgium's Borussia Dortmund star Thomas Meunier was also seen wearing a mask against the Red Devils' match against Canada.
In Dortmund's match against Hannover 96 earlier this season, the defender fractured his cheekbone and had to undergo surgery.